Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Mercer County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 110,652.[2] Its county seat is Mercer,[3] and its largest city is Hermitage. The county was created in 1800 and later organized in 1803.[4]

Mercer County
County
Mercer County Courthouse (1909)
Mercer County Courthouse (1909)
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Mercer County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°19′N 80°15′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedNovember 7, 1803
Named forHugh Mercer
SeatMercer
Largest cityHermitage
Area
 • Total683 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land673 sq mi (1,740 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total110,652
 • Density162/sq mi (63/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district16th
Websitewww.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us

Mercer County is included in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 673 square miles (1,740 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5] It has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Sharon range from 27.1 °F in January to 72.2 °F in July, while in Mercer borough they range from 25.4 °F in January to 70.1 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18003,228—
18108,277156.4%
182011,68141.1%
183019,72968.9%
184032,87366.6%
185033,1720.9%
186036,85611.1%
187049,97735.6%
188056,16112.4%
189055,744−0.7%
190057,3872.9%
191077,69935.4%
192093,78820.7%
193099,2465.8%
1940101,0391.8%
1950111,95410.8%
1960127,51913.9%
1970127,175−0.3%
1980128,2990.9%
1990121,003−5.7%
2000120,307−0.6%
2010116,638−3.0%
2020110,652−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[10] 2020[11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 120,293 people, 46,712 households, and 32,371 families residing in the county. The population density was 179 people per square mile (69/km2). There were 49,859 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.13% White, 5.25% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.7% were of German, 20.0% Irish, 14.9% Italian, 12.0% English, 6.4% American, 6.2% Polish, 3.7% Scotch-Irish, 3.3% Dutch ancestry.

There were 46,712 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

2020 census
Mercer County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 96,998 87.6%
Black or African American (NH) 6,289 5.7%
Native American (NH) 116 0.1%
Asian (NH) 683 0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH) 14 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 4,943 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1,609 1.5%

Government and politics
United States presidential election results for Mercer County, Pennsylvania[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 36,143 62.19% 21,067 36.25% 907 1.56%
2016 31,544 59.70% 18,733 35.45% 2,562 4.85%
2012 25,925 50.79% 24,232 47.48% 882 1.73%
2008 26,565 49.04% 26,411 48.76% 1,192 2.20%
2004 26,311 51.03% 24,831 48.16% 422 0.82%
2000 23,132 47.47% 23,817 48.87% 1,783 3.66%
1996 17,213 37.60% 23,003 50.25% 5,563 12.15%
1992 16,081 32.27% 23,264 46.68% 10,491 21.05%
1988 21,301 46.43% 24,278 52.92% 301 0.66%
1984 24,211 49.11% 24,658 50.01% 434 0.88%
1980 22,372 48.54% 19,716 42.78% 4,002 8.68%
1976 22,469 46.58% 25,041 51.91% 725 1.50%
1972 27,961 59.37% 18,087 38.40% 1,052 2.23%
1968 23,131 47.11% 22,814 46.46% 3,160 6.44%
1964 18,153 35.90% 32,199 63.68% 211 0.42%
1960 29,109 54.43% 24,243 45.33% 128 0.24%
1956 28,785 59.14% 19,769 40.62% 120 0.25%
1952 26,424 55.59% 20,770 43.69% 343 0.72%
1948 18,916 52.71% 16,108 44.89% 862 2.40%
1944 19,606 53.85% 16,589 45.57% 212 0.58%
1940 21,058 55.10% 16,968 44.40% 189 0.49%
1936 18,493 45.88% 20,879 51.79% 939 2.33%
1932 14,057 53.53% 10,961 41.74% 1,240 4.72%
1928 22,599 72.71% 8,204 26.39% 280 0.90%
1924 14,639 65.29% 3,688 16.45% 4,093 18.26%
1920 11,575 60.29% 4,823 25.12% 2,801 14.59%
1916 5,866 42.66% 6,390 46.47% 1,495 10.87%
1912 1,873 14.73% 4,039 31.76% 6,806 53.51%
1908 6,497 47.27% 5,473 39.82% 1,774 12.91%
1904 8,574 60.67% 3,845 27.21% 1,714 12.13%
1900 6,950 55.94% 4,916 39.57% 559 4.50%
1896 7,262 55.53% 5,500 42.06% 315 2.41%
1892 5,874 50.80% 4,931 42.65% 757 6.55%
1888 6,428 53.91% 4,806 40.31% 689 5.78%
1884 6,357 51.81% 4,861 39.62% 1,052 8.57%
1880 6,079 51.33% 5,029 42.46% 735 6.21%

Voter Registration

As of November 7, 2022, there are 72,325 registered voters in the county. Republicans hold a plurality of voters by a margin of 9,387 voters (13% of the total registered). There are 35,980 registered Republicans, 26,593 registered Democrats, 7,551 registered non-affiliated voters, and 2,201 voters registered to third parties.[16]

Chart of Voter Registration

  Republican (49.75%)
  Democratic (36.77%)
  Independent (10.44%)
  Third Party (3.04%)
Voter registration and party enrollment
Party Number of voters Percentage
Republican 35,980 49.75
Democratic 26,593 36.77
Independent 7,551 10.44
Third Party 2,201 3.04
Total 72,325 100%

Political bellwether

Mercer County was previously considered a political bellwether for the state of Pennsylvania since its demographics, urban/rural ratio, and party affiliation once closely mirrored the state as a whole. In 2000, Al Gore carried it against George W. Bush. This trend failed to hold true during 2004 Presidential election and 2008 Presidential election, in which Mercer County voted more conservatively than the rest of the state. In 2004, George W. Bush won Mercer County with 51% of the vote. That year John Kerry won the state as a whole with 51% of the popular vote. In 2008, John McCain won Mercer County by fewer than 200 votes, as he and Barack Obama each received roughly 49% of the popular vote. Barack Obama won the state of Pennsylvania as a whole with 55% of the popular vote. Each of the three statewide office winners also carried Mercer in 2008. In 2016, Donald Trump won Mercer County by 12,403 votes. Trump also won the state of Pennsylvania. Each of the three Republican candidates for statewide office carried Mercer County in 2016. In 2020, Trump again carried the county, despite Pennsylvania narrowly voting for Joe Biden. Trump carried 62% of the vote, the largest majority for any major party candidate since 1964, and the largest majority for a Republican since 1928.

County Officials
CommissionerPartyTitle
Matthew McConnellRepublicanChairman
Scott BoydRepublicanVice Chairman
Timothy McGonigleDemocratSecretary
OfficeOfficialParty
President Judge of Court of Common PleasDaniel P. WallaceRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasD. Neil McEwenRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasTedd C. NesbitRepublican
Judge of Court of Common PleasRonald D. Amrhein Jr.Republican
Clerk of Courts/Register of WillsMary Jo Basilone DePretaRepublican
District AttorneyPete AckerRepublican
CoronerJohn A. LibonatiRepublican
SheriffBruce RosaRepublican
TreasurerAmber WhiteRepublican
ProthonotaryRuth BiceRepublican
Recorder of DeedsDee Dee ZickarRepublican
ControllerSteve ShermanRepublican

State senate
DistrictSenatorParty
50Michele BrooksRepublican

State House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
17Timothy R. BonnerRepublican
7Parke WentlingRepublican

United States House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
16Mike KellyRepublican

United States Senate
SenatorParty
John FettermanDemocrat
Bob CaseyDemocrat

Education

Higher education

Career-based education
  • Laurel Technical Institute, Sharon
  • Mercer County Career and Technical Center, Mercer
  • Penn State Cosmetology Academy, Hermitage
  • Sharon Regional Health System Schools of Nursing and Radiology, Sharon

Public school districts
Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Charter schools
  • Keystone Education Center Charter School,[17] Greenville, PA. 256 pupils grades 7-12 Report Card 2010.[18]

Private schools

Recreation

There is one Pennsylvania state park in Mercer County. Maurice K. Goddard State Park, named for Maurice K. Goddard, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, is just off exit 130 of Interstate 79 on Pennsylvania Route 358 near Stoneboro.

The Wendell August Forge, the last remaining working forge in the state, was open to the public for tours, but it burned down on March 6, 2010.[19] It has since reopened in new facilities.

Mercer County Court House built in 1909.

Communities
Map of Mercer County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red) and Townships (white).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in one case, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Mercer County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community
  • Hickory Township-became the Municipality of Hermitage in 1976, and then the City of Hermitage in 1984.[20]

Mixed Nomenclature
  • Borough of Greenville is also interchangeably designated as Town of Greenville with exact municipal designation currently unclear.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Mercer County.[21]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Hermitage City 16,220
2 Sharon City 14,038
3 Grove City Borough 8,322
4 Greenville Town 5,919
5 Farrell City 5,111
6 Sharpsville Borough 4,415
7 Reynolds Heights CDP 2,061
8 † Mercer Borough 2,002
9 Stoneboro Borough 1,051
10 Lake Latonka CDP 1,012
11 West Middlesex Borough 863
12 Sandy Lake Borough 659
13 Clark Borough 640
14 Wheatland Borough 632
15 Jamestown Borough 617
16 Fredonia Borough 502
17 Jackson Center Borough 224
18 New Lebanon Borough 188
19 Sheakleyville Borough 142

See also

References
  1. "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census. Census.
  2. "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census. Census.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census. Census.
  11. "QuickFacts Mercer County, Pennsylvania". Census. Census.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mercer County, Pennsylvania".
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  15. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President". Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  16. "Voter Registration Statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. February 23, 2022.
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Charter Schools".
  19. "Landmark metal forge burns in Mercer County." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Online. March 06, 2010.
  20. "RootsWeb.com Home Page". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
  21. Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2018.

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